Toothbrush



Jan. 15, 1952 F. J. ZAVADA 2,582,404

TOOTHBRUSH Filed Feb. 11, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l LJJ a 12 F I rwe utor:g'i y 8 Hank JZa'vafZ Jan. 15, 1952 F. J. ZAVADA 2,582,404

TOOTHBRUSH Filed Feb. 11, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fi n9 /3 1 B a 6 7 f;llmm- 10 [H L'Lll l .B d 4/ 12 12 572% K "i Inventor Fran]: J Z avada BI a? Patented Jan. 15, 1952 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOTHBRUSHFrank J. Zavada, Swlssvale, Pa.

Application February 11, 1947, Serial No. 127,898

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to brushes and in particular to fountain toothbrushes.

It is an object of the invention to provide for assembling a paste tubeor a powder tube or receptacle with the shank of the brush so that whenso assembled the tube or receptacle will afford a handle for the brush,and the contents of the tube or receptacle may be fed to the bristles ofthe brush through the shank of the brush in a simple and efiectivemanner.

It is a further object of the invention to employ a comparatively shortbrush shank for convenience in carrying the brush in a piece of luggage,and also to provide for housing and protecting the brush, when not inuse, in a casing which may be detached from the brush-shank and thenreassembled therewith in a reverse position so as to form a handle forthe brush.

The brush shank is tubular in form or provided with a longitudinal boreopen at opposite ends for the passage of liquid, paste or powder, andprovision is made to deliver such material to the brush bristles in aneffective and satisfactory manner.

Provision is made, in the form of an adjustable plug, for controllingthe passage of material through the bore in the shank, and such means isalso employed for carrying the screw cap of a paste tube or a powderreceptacle when assembled with the shank of the brush. When the brush ishoused within, the casing, the screw plug is employed to close the openend of the bore at the rear end of the shank.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide forinterlocking the casing with the shank of the brush in each of theassembled relations of the brush shank and the casing. and also toprovide for holding the brush in a pocket in the clothing.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists inthe combination and arangement of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the drawings and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims, it of course being understood that changes in theform, construction and minor details may be made, within the scope ofthe claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the brush of the present invention looking atthe bristle side thereof, and with the casing member in position for.use as a handle;

g Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure l;

therewith and housing the brush and shown in section;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shank of the brush;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view on the line 88 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a side view of a brush of the present invention providedwith means for interlocking the casing and the brush shank, the partsbeing shown in the operative condition of the brush;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line Hl--I0 of Figure9;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the brush of Figures 9 and10 with the brush housed within the casing;

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line l2-l2 of Figure11.

The brush of the present invention includes a shank A provided with alongitudinal bore or passage D opening through opposite ends of theshank. At its forward end, the shank A is provided with a head portionoffset longitudinally of the shank and provided with any ordinary orpreferred character of bristles F in line with the bore or passage D inthe shank. The shank tapers from its rear larger end portion towards thebristles, and said larger end is provided with a series of annular ribsK for a purpose as will be hereinafter described. The enlarged rear endof the shank is provided with an annular concavity, and the rear end ofthe bore D is enlarged and screw-threaded for the reception of ascrew-threaded plug J. This plug may be removed from its position asshown in Figure 6, and engaged with a screw threaded opening extendingtransversely through the shank so that the inner end of the plug mayenter the bore and reduce the cross sectional area at this point forcontrolling the passage of the material through the bore.

In Figure 6, the brush is shown as being housed within a casing B closedat that end which embraces the bristles and open at the opposite endwhich frictionally engages the annular ribs K in such a manner as tohold the parts together and at the same time permitting of the slidabledisengagement of the casing or cover from the enlarged portion of thebrush shank. As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, when the cover or casing Bhas been removed, it may be turned end for end and its open end slippedupon the enlarged end of the shank so as to frictionally hold it inplace, in which position it will serve as a handle for manipulating thebrush as an ordinary tooth brush. While this housing or casing may be ofany material, it is preferred to make it of Celluloid or some similarrelatively stiff elastically yieldable material, and it may also betransparent.

When the brush is to be used as a fountain brush, the cover or casing Bis removed, and then any ordinary or preferred form of Paste tube may beassembled with the shank of the brush by inserting the screw-threadeddischarge nipple of the tube into the screw-threaded socket portion C atthe rear end of the brush shank, the socket in the re'ar end of theshank accommodating the tapered forward end of the tube.

In this position the tube serves as a handle for manipulating the brush.By squeezing the collapsible paste tube, a portion of the contentsthereof may be forced through the bore D and thus fed to the bristles ofthe brush in the manner indicated in Figure 2. It will be seen that thebore D tapers from its rear end to its forward end and, what will betermed the inner longitudinal side of the bore, is slightly inclinedtowards the outer ends of the bristles, whereby the discharged ribbon ofpaste, designated G, in Figure 2, is directed somewhat laterally fromthe discharge end of the bore D so that the discharge portion of thetooth paste will be directed outwardly andaround the outer ends of thebristles in a simple and efficient manner. The supply of paste to thebristles may be controlled by adjustment of the plug J. Preparatory toassembling the brush and the paste tube, the screw cap of the latter is,of course, removed and may be screwed upon the projecting outer end ofthe plug J as indicated at G in Figure 7 of the drawings.

A powder receptacle, of any common or preferred form, may be assembledwith the brush shank in the same manner as described for the paste tube,and by pressing upon the collapsible walls thereof, the powder may beforced through the bore D and discharged upon the bristles.

The housing or cover B may be, as hereinbefore described, made of somerelatively stiff elastically yieldable material such as plastic, and maybe employed as a container or receptacle for a liquid dentifrice or anykind of a liquid and connected with the rear end of the shank andemployed for rinsing purposes by squeezing the cover when positioned toserve as a handle. The cover 01' casing must, of course, be of acharacter to resume its normal shape after being squeezed, in order thatit may be detached, turned end for end and slipped upon the brush fromthe bristle end thereof so as to again house the brush in the mannerindicated in Figure 6.

In Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, the brush has been shown equipped withmeans for interlocking the brush and the casing to prevent accidentalseparation or looseness of these parts in each of the assembledrelations thereof. As shown, the casing B is provided at its open endwith a screw threaded band I, swivelled at 2 to the end of the casing soas to rotate thereon around its longitudinal axis for engagement withthe screw threaded portion of the brush shank as shown in Figures 10, 11and 12. There is a nut 3 provided with a slot or opening 4 with which isengaged a hook or elbow 5 projecting longitudinally from outer edge ofthe band I so as to provide a hinged connection between the nut and theband I. When the brush shank and the casing are in the assembledcondition whereby the brush may be used, the screw threaded openingthrough the nut 3 will be in concentric alignment with the threadedopening in the side of the brush shank, and the screw threaded plug Jwill be passed through the nut and engaged with said screw threadedopening whereby the band I will be locked against rotation and thus thebrush shank and the casing will be interlocked and held againstaccidental disengagement.

When the brush shank and the casing have been disconnected from thecondition shown in Figures 9 and 10, and the brush reassembled with thecasing and aligned within the latter, the nut 3 will be swung on itshinged connection on the band I and placed across the outer end of thebrush shank, whereupon the plug J may then be passed through the nut 3and engaged with the screw threaded portion of the bore or passagethrough the shank so as to thereby hold the shank and easing againstaccidental separation.

The coupling band I for connecting the shank and the casing in either oftheir related positions, is utilized as a mounting for a spring clip 6with the body of the clip extending longitudinally of the brush andcapable of being employed in the usual manner for holding the brush in apocket. Preferably, the spring clip 6 is an integral part of and extendsfrom the part i and projects rearwardly and beyond the swiveledconnection between the coupling band and the casing, the free endportion 1 of the clip lying close to or in engagement with the exteriorof the casing and flared outwardly therefrom, as well shown in Figures10 and 12 so as to facilitate the engagement of the clip with the outerside of, the pocket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A brush comprising a shank screw-threaded at its rear end andprovided with bristles projecting transversely from the front end of theshank, said shank having a longitudinal bore extending from the frontend to the rear end thereof and open at opposite ends, the rear end ofthe bore which is remote from the bristles being screw threaded, saidshank also having a screw-threaded seat intersecting the bore, a casingadapted to contain the shank and having a closed end portion adapted tohouse the bristle portion of the shank, the other end of the casingbeing open for the introduction and removal of the shank, a,screw-threaded coupling swiveled concentrically to the open end of thecasing and removably engaging the screw-threaded portion of the shank,said casing capable of being removed, turned end for end and thenreengaged with the rear end of the shank and thereby extendingrearwardly therefrom for use as a handle, a nut hinged to the couplingso as to lie across the rear end of the shank in registration with thebore thereof when the bristle portion of the brush is housed within thecasing and to lie alongside the shank concentrically covering saidscrewthreaded seat when the casing is in the position of a handle, and ascrew-threaded pin engaging the threads of the nut and the threads ofthe bore of the shank when said nut and the bore of the shank areconcentrically registered, and adapted to engage the threads of the nutand the threaded seat provided in the shank when the casing is in theposition of a handle.

2. A brush comprising a shank screw-threaded at its rear end and havingbristles projecting transversely at the front one end thereof, saidshank having a longitudinal bore open at opposite ends, the end of thebore which opens through the rear end of the shank being screw threaded,the shank having a transverse screwthreaded opening, a casing adapted tocontain the shank and having a closed end portion adapted to house thebristles. the other end of the casing being open for the introductionand removal of the shank, a screw-threaded coupling swiveledconcehtrically upon the open end of the casing and detachably engagingsaid screwthreaded portion of the shank, said casing and couplingcapable of being removed, turned end for end and then re-engaged withthe threaded portions of the shank and thereby extending rearwardlytherefrom for use as a handle, a nut hinged to the coupling and adaptedto lie across the rear end of the shank in the housed position of theshank with the threaded portions of the nut and the bore in concentricregistration, and

a a screw-threaded pin engaging the threaded portions of the nut and thebore when registered to prevent rotation of the coupling, said nut alsobeing adapted to lie along side the shank when the casing is employed asa handle with the threaded portions of the nut and opening in the shankin concentric registration and the screwthreaded pin being adapted toengage with the threads of the nut and the threaded opening in theshank.

3. A fountain brush comprising a hollow elastically yieldable combinedhandle and dentifrice container open at one end only. a shank memberhaving its front end portions offset laterally and provided withtransversely extending brush bristles, the rear portion of the shankhaving a bore open at opposite ends, a detachable connection between thehandle and the shank said shank capable of being disconnected from thehandle and turned end for end and thrust into the hollow handle brushend foremost, the length of the handle being such as to house the shank,the bore of the shank forming a conduit for the passage of material fromthe elastically yieldable hollow handle to the bristles of the shank,the rear open end of the said bore being screw-threaded, the shankhaving a screw-threaded passage intersecting the bore, the passage andthe screw-threaded end of the bore being of the same diameter, a nuthinged to the hollow handle for selective registration with the passageand the rear end of the bore, a screw-threaded'plug engaged with the nutand the screw-threaded passage when the shank is extending outwardlyfrom the handle, and said plug being engaged with the nut and thescrew-threaded end of the bore when the shank is within the handle.

4. A fountain brush as set forth in claim 3, said detachable connectioncomprising a connecting band swiveled on the open end of the handle forengagement with the shank in each position thereof, said nut beinghinged to said connecting band and capable of being registered with therear end of the bore when the shank is housed in the handle and alsoregistered with the screw-threaded passage when the shank projectsoutwardly from the handle.

5. A fountain brush comprising a hollow elastically yieldable combinedhandle and dentifrice container open at one end only, a shank memberposition thereof, a retaining clip integral with,

having its front end portion offset laterally and provided withtransversely extending brush bristles, the rear portion of the shankhaving a bore open at opposite ends, a detachable connection between thehandle and shank'said shank capable of being disconnected from thehandle and turned end for end and thrust into the hollow handle brushend foremost, the length of the handle being such as to house the shank,the bore of the shank forming a conduit for the passage of material fromthe elastically yieldable hollow handle to the bristles of the shank,said detachable connection comprising a connecting band swiveled on theopen end of the handle for engagement with the rear end of the shank ineach the band and projecting beyond the open end thereof, a nut hingedupon the outer end portion of the clip for selective alignment with therear end of the bore when the shank is housed within the handle and withthe passage in the shank when said shank is projecting outwardly fromthe handle, and a screw plug for engagement with the nut and passage andalso with the nut and rear end of the bore respectively.

6. A fountain brush comprising a hollow elastically yieldable andcompressible combined handle and dentifrice container open at one endonly, a shank member provided with transversely extending brushbristles, the rear portion of the shank having a bore open at oppositeends, a detachable connection between the handle and the shank, saidshank capable of being disconnected from the handle and turned end forend and thrust into the hollow handle brush end foremost, the length ofthe handle being such as to house the shank, the bore of the shankleading from the hollow handle to the brush and forming a conduit forthe passage of material forced from the elastically yieldable hollowhandle to the bristles of the shank upon collapsing of the hollowhandle, the rear end of said bore being screw-threaded, the shank havinga screw-threaded passage intersecting the bore, the passage and thescrew-threaded 'end of the bore being of the same diameter, and ascrew-threaded plug for selective engagement with the screw-threadedrear end of the bore and the said passage.

7. A fountain brush comprising a hollow elastically yieldable andcompressible combined handie and dentifrice container open at one end, ashank member provided with transversely extending brush bristles, therear portion of the shank having a longitudinal bore open at oppositeends, a detachable connection between the handle and the shank, saidshank being capable of being disconnected from the handle and turned endfor end and thrust into the hollow handle brush end foremost, the lengthof the handle being such as to house the shank, the bore of the shankleading from the hollow handle to the brush and forming a conduit forthe passage of material forced from the elastically yieldable hollowhandle to the bristles of the shank upon collapsing of the hollowhandle, the rear end of said bore being screw-threaded, the shank havinga screw-threaded passage intersecting the bore, the passage and thescrew-threaded end of the bore being of the same diameter, saiddetachable connection comprising a connecting band swiveled to the openend of the handle for engagement with the rear end of the shank in eachposition thereof, a retaining clip bent from the outer end of the bandand connected to the 7 band by an elbow. a nut having an opening looselyreceiving the elbow whereby the nut is hinged to the clip for selectivealignment with the rear end of the bore when the shank is housed withinthe handle and with the passage in the shank when said shank isprojecting outwardly from the handle. and a screw plug engaged with thenut for selective engagement with the passage and the rear end of thebore.

FRANK J. ZAVADA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

8 UNITED sums PATEN'IS Number Name Date Ott May 22, 1894 Kalina. Apr. 6,1915 Jordan Sept. 5, 1916 Amadeo July 3, 1917 Salavas Aug. 14, 1917Schoneman June 20, 1922 Deutsch May 30, 1933 Rocca Sept. 1, 1942

